Post by Cait on Oct 27, 2018 19:32:49 GMT -8

[smear:#000000]Korvalia! Guess whaaaaat![/smear:#e9dfae:0]

What is it? The blonde didn't even look up from the scrolls she was hunched over. Bare feet curled in the fur rug beneath her chair. Over the turns she'd gotten used to the Moonlight interrupting her with various gossip from around the weyr. Winner of flights, squabbles she overheard. Most of it she ignored or simply listened obligingly to without actually paying attention.

[smear:#000000]I was on the heights sunning with Honnath and we saw Bamath![/smear:#e9dfae:0]

That's nice, dear. Running her finger down the hide, Korvalia took in the ingredients for a recipe that she'd found in the archive. Though her duties didn't allow her to do much cooking anymore, it hadn't erased her joy of it. When she could, she snuck into the kitchens and did a bit of cooking. Usually she was just an extra pair of hands which was appreciated, but sometimes she wished she could just hijack the stove for a bit.

[smear:#000000]Korvalia, you're ignoring me again.[/smear:#e9dfae:0]

No I'm not. I heard everything you said. Honnath, lake, swimming. Korvalia's pale eyes danced across the hide then her head snapped up. There was a rumble of laughter in her head as Korinath knew the exact moment that her rider realized what she had said. Pressing her lips together, Korvalia carefully rolled up the recipe and pushed away from her desk. Grabing her jacket off the back of her chair, she crammed her feet into her boots, not bothering with tying. Where is he?[smear:#000000]I thought you might be interested to know. Bamath looks very handsome, Honnath thought so.[/smear:#e9dfae:0]

Korinath, where! I swear I'm going to murder him. Twice now he's just up and left, no explanation.

[smear:#000000]You're not going to murder him, don't be silly.[/smear:#e9dfae:0]

The first time he left I had to take over lessons and it was a disaster!

[smear:#000000]I thought we did rather well.[/smear:#e9dfae:0]

He came back with a pregnant aurora rider, Korinath! Korvalia growled as she stomped toward her door, pausing as she clenched her jaw.

[smear:#000000]Oh...I had forgotten about that. Why does that matter though? He came back.[/smear:#e9dfae:0]

And then he left again! Just...tell me where they are Korinath. Now!

Reaching out, she wrenched open the door, aiming to charge out only to reel back when she realized there was a body in the way.

Post by shapeshifter on Oct 27, 2018 19:52:15 GMT -8

R'niaan had his hand in the knocking position to Korvalia's weyr. As the muffled sounds of hard footsteps neared the door in a flurry he paused before making a sound. The door flung itself wide open and there stood Korvalia toe-to-toe with him.

"Evening, Kor..." he began, clearing his throat, "I wanted to stop by and let you know I've returned from my latest..err...mission." his stupid half-grin shined at her as he looked over his Assistant.

"Bamath hasn't shut up about you and your Moonlight since I landed last night; imploring me to see you as soon as possible. I figured you'd want to know we were back." he stammered, pausing to let the realness of the moment sink in for him. He had not seen the woman in turns, hopefully he may be able to charm his way out of a severe scolding...or worse.

A faint feeling of humor entered his mind as his dragon chuckled, [smear:#721513]/You'll be lucky if she doesn't./[/smear:#721513:0]

R'niaan ignored his dragon's comment, focusing on Korvalia's tighened jawline, wondering what could be bothering her as she walked out the door in such a rush before his figure stopped her. "I hope I'm not stopping you from any business though..." he stammered out.

Post by Cait on Oct 27, 2018 21:09:35 GMT -8

[smear:#000000]Found him![/smear:#e9e1b3:0]

She recognized the voice before the face and pale brows snapped together in annoyance. She couldn’t decide what she wanted to do more, slam the door in his face or punch him. Naturally she did neither as she was far to self-contained to have an outburst like that. Some days she wished she could be more like her younger sister and not be so constrained by propriety and rules.

“I’m not blind R’niaan, I can see that you’re back.” Her voice held a chill just as cold as the northern air as she peered up at him, unmoved by his grin or rambling. As he spoke of Bamath and Korinath, her hands found their way to her hips. After all this time he was just going to show up at her door like no time had passed. Not a single word in turns! She wanted to shove him, shout, maybe hit him. She did none of these; it was unbecoming. Instead she stood there, staring at him, her annoyance growing.

Arms shifting to cross over her chest, almost as though to keep herself from exploding, Kor took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Would have been nice to know you were leaving, but I guess that’s neither here nor there now that your back….turns later.”

Post by shapeshifter on Oct 27, 2018 21:27:11 GMT -8

R'niaan grimaced at the coldness of her tone and taking note that a woman's hands on their hips meant trouble for him. He bit his lower lip softly, a slow drag and release of it before speaking, "You know Kor, I can't tell you everything on these missions. I wanted to leave a note, I did, but I didn't want anyone to come looking..." he sighed and leaned against the stone wall in the door facing.

In a half-assed attempt at charming he continued, "You know, I'd at least hoped for an 'I missed you.' or something along the lines; I thought of you often." he said and smirked, looking into her eyes with his soft honey colored eyes. He used his free hand to push back his hair from his eyes and move the same hand to rest on a belt ring with his thumb as he stood leaning. [smear:#ac0400]/She's not taking this lightly.../ [/smear:#721513:0]Bamath crooned, beginning to feel worried for his Crimsonrider. Korvalia was no-nonsense too often to even begin to sweet talk a way out of a serious matter. Even Bamath knew R'niaan shouldn't dance the subject.

Post by Cait on Oct 28, 2018 11:09:19 GMT -8

“I never asked for everything. Just the courtesy of knowing when you were going to just disappear and leave everything for me to do.” As far as Korvalia was concerned, not leaving a note was just as bad as not wanting to leave a note. She’d been stuck in the limbo of the unknown for turns. She hated not being in control of what went on around her; hated not knowing what was going on even more.

So he’d thought about her. Kor frowned; there was no reason why that admission should please her. She was annoyed, maybe even mad at the man. He had an irritating track record of disappearing on her and then reappearing with some fresh drama. Last time it was a pregnant woman, what would it be this time? Had she missed him? Of course not!

[smear:#000000]Why do you lie to yourself? You were thinking about him the other day.[/smear:#f2ecae:0]

What do you know? You can’t even remember last week!

“Well I’m sorry to disappoint. If you were looking for some warm reception, why didn’t you go find that aurora rider?” Usually she was a little better at hiding her bitterness over the whole situation, but she was a little off balance at the moment. She didn’t like surprises and this was definitely one of the bigger surprises she’d been subjected to in recent times. Turning away from the door, she left it open, not entirely dismissing the man and moved back toward her desk to remove her boots and replace her jacket on the back of the chair, wrapping a shawl around her shoulders instead.

Post by shapeshifter on Oct 28, 2018 11:25:00 GMT -8

R'niaan grimaced, "That's over. It was whirlwind and as much as I cared for her, she wasn't right for me..." he said, the pain of loss on his face. He was known to run from his own issues... missions....

R'niaan flipped the subject, "Look, let's go to the Kitchens and grab a bite, we can catch up?" he said, "Or we can call up for food and meet here... or mine?" he asked.[smear:#721513]/Recovery with food...I will need to eat today./[/smear:#721513:0] Bamath chimed in, the faint rumble of hunger ebbed in R'niaan's mind. R'niaan quipped back, Then find a fat wherry to feast on, you know where they are kept as good as I. Don't need my pride wasting away from hunger, hm? he asked of the dragon, only feeling a burning sensation of the dragon's happiness fill him for a moment.

Bamath walked towards the ledge of their weyr, diving off of it and down towards the Bowl for a feast. His hide glistened from a fresh oiling before their arrival in the sunlight, glimmering like the snow.

R'niaan looked to Kor, "Listen, we can catch up if you wish on what's going on. Fill me in and I promise... no more disappearances... You know I never made promises to anyone. You're my right hand ma-..lady.. and you deserve better than my shenanigans and personal issues. Please Kor? Forgive me for this one?"

Post by Cait on Oct 28, 2018 12:09:54 GMT -8

Korvalia let out a non committal hrumph at his admission that his fling with the aurora rider was over. She’d long since convinced herself that she didn’t care to the point where even Korinath had stopped poking at her about it. But at the offer of food, as much as she wanted to turn him down, her stomach gurgled and her manners reared their head. She had no logical reason to refuse him at this moment.

Turning back, the moonlightrider leaned against the edge of her desk and folded her arms over her chest once more, toes wiggling into the thick fur beneath her feet. At his promise, she raised a brow. She’d not heard the words uttered by the crimsonrider before and wasn’t sure what to make of them.

It was too late though, the Moonlight had already swooped down from her perch above the Weyr to another vantage point where she would be better able to spy on the crimson as he hunted for himself. She was far too incorrigible at times and Korvalia knew that any attempt to reel in her gregarious dragon was often in vain.

Sighing, Korvalia turned her attention back to R’niaan and gave a little jerk of her chin, inviting him in. “Take your boots off, I don’t like dirt in my weyr.” She ordered, her tone still frosty at best. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to forgive him for disappearing on her yet again, but she also wouldn’t deny him the opportunity to make amends. That would just be rude afterall.

After a moment, one of Korinath’s firelizards appeared and the little Sunlance-Black settled herself on the assistant weyrlingmaster’s shoulder, crooning softly and rubbing her head against the woman’s cheek. It seemed to calm her a little; her expression, at least, softened a bit.

Post by shapeshifter on Oct 28, 2018 13:30:27 GMT -8

R'niaan nodded at Kor's invitation with one swift head bob. He obliged her orders and kicked his boots off at the door. "I understand, my weyr is still pretty barren after my absence, it really needs a woman's touch." he said, thinking about the thin amount of furs in his weyr, nothing to personalize it and how he should really change that.

He felt another presence in the room, turning his head to Kor and seeing the Sunlance-Black firelizard on her shoulder, "Pretty thing, very pretty." he said, smiling at it, "You know, I should really look into impressing one of those marvelous creatures." the chill of the morning still in his bones caused him to ask, "We can definitely order klah, meatrolls and some fruit?" he asked, his rumbles in his own stomach growing with the morning's time.

Bamath sailed over the Bowl. Spotting his prey down below his lazy downward spiral turned aggressive when he spotted two fat wherries. He tucked his wings in and his large form dove, snatching the first one up in his claws and bringing them to his maw. In a quick bone snapping wrench of a moment, his teeth broke free its head and swallowed it whole. He dropped the body with a *thud* to the ground from a few feet up before swooping in on the scatter brained second. It dodged his second attempt at a grab, but his third was successful, treating it as he had done the first. He let the body fall to the ground and with a quick backwinging, he landed gently next to them.

He looked up towards Korinath and her rider's weyr and saw the Moonlight had moved. He paused for a moment, scanning the ledges with his blue-green, tinged with red, eyes and caught a glimpse of her looking down on him. [smear:#721513]/I should have plenty, Korinath, would you like?/[/smear:#721513:0] he asked, nudging one of them with his nose one body-roll into her direction. He was used to sharing with werylings, sharing with another dragon would be no different. He stretched his unfurled wings out in a display of his large size, a gleeming eye on Korinath. He then tucked them up to his body neatly, before laying down with a wherry in his front claws and his tail curled along his side.

Post by Cait on Oct 28, 2018 14:12:43 GMT -8

The only response R’niaan would get about the state of his weyr was another ‘hrumph’ as she idly reached up and brushed Croony’s affections away. She’d never admit it, but she was rather fond of the little sunlance-black and was glad that she spent more time with her human owner than her dragon one. Pretty, on the other hand, was entirely Korinath’s little beast and followed the moonlight everywhere. Croony, realizing that she was getting attention from a new source, crooned curiously at the other rider, stretching her neck out to get a better look.

“They can be useful. Quite good at carrying messages.” She stared at the crimsonrider pointed for several seconds before grabbing a bit of scrap hide from her desk and scribbling down the order. Klah, halk, meatrolls and whatever could be spared of the stored fruits. She wrote her name at the bottom and the location of her weyr and then rolled up the little scrap. “Croony, take this to the kitchen please.”

The firelizard took the hide in her mouth and took off, blinking out of the weyr to her destination. Once the firelizard was gone, Korvalia was quiet for several seconds before she gestured to a nook with a low table set in the center and furs and pillows piled to make a comfortable and warm area to sit. “Do you want a blanket?” There was already one folded on the ground next to the nook but she had others draped over various surfaces as well around the weyr. There was no reason to be cold in the winter in the north when you were a dragonrider.

As Korinath watched the efficient dispatching of two wherries, she gave an excited little trill as she settled on a nearby ledge. When the offer was extended, she practically squealed, as much as a dragon was able to, and glided through the air to land with a few little jaunty, bouncing steps. Every oblivious to personal space, she rumbled happily as she ducked under his outstretched wing and nosed the sensitive spot where wingsail connected to body before sliding along his side and popping back out from beneath the wing to pounce playfully on the wherry he’d rolled toward her.

[smear:#000000]Thank you! Korvalia refuses to admit it, but I missed you two![/smear:#f2e2b1:0]

You forgot they left after two weeks, you shameless flirt!

Korinath ignored Korvalia as she sniffed at the headless wherry and poked it with her nose, smearing blood on her hide in the process. As Bamath settled, so too did the moonlight, though she proceeded to roll onto her side, nearly touching the crimson’s tail, with her gifted meal between her claws and gnaw on its neck. She wasn’t extremely hungry but she was more than happy for the gift and the company.

Post by shapeshifter on Oct 28, 2018 15:03:32 GMT -8

R'niaan watched the firelizard pop ~between~ to it's destination and spoke out to Bamath, Good to see you're not as greedy as years ago. Still surprised you faintly remember. He heard Bamath snort, [smear:#721513]/You wouldn't let me forget./[/smear:#721513:0]

Bamath rumbled with pleasure as the Moonlight scurried under his outstretched wing and against his body, almost like an endearing laugh of sorts. Her beautiful hide shined as she bounded onto the wherry and he watched as she poked around it before munching.

[smear:#721513]/R'niaan thought about Korvalia more than he would admit to himself. So, yes, distance can create fondness.../[/smear:#721513:0] Bamath trailed off as he ate his own wherry. His bright eyes looked to meet Korinath and he unfurled a wing over her and lightly draped it as to shield her from the cold winds that occasionally blew through the bowl, his tail twitching occasionally against her back.

R'niaan wasn't tuning into his dragon's conversation but did pick up a feeling he couldn't quite put his finger on. He shrugged it off and looked to Korvalia, "Sure, a blanket would be great." he said, making his way to her nook. He took up a blanket and laid it across his lap after unfolding it. he nestled into the furs, the natural heat his body created warming them up well to insulate him. He looked up to Korvalia, "Sit?" he asked, patting the seat next to himself, "Sit and tell me all I've missed. Certainly things with you have not stayed stale?"

Post by Cait on Oct 28, 2018 17:20:53 GMT -8

Once R'niaan was settled, Korvalia grabbed a blanket for herself and joined him in her cozy little corner. Between the furs and the rug beneath them and the various pillows it was a comfortable place. There were times where she slept there instead of her proper bed. Arranging herself so that not a single part of her would touch him, Korvalia remained a bit stiff. It would not be an easy task for him to win her over again.

"What exactly do you mean by 'stale'?" She inquired, turning her head to get a better look at R'niaan. He'd aged a bit since she'd last seen him, looked a bit rougher, but somehow not as...hard? She couldn't quite place it, but something had changed. As for herself, she was no longer an overly serious teenager as she'd been when she'd first Impressed Korinath. She was now a fully grown woman; still perhaps a bit overly serious, but fully matured. Her hair was longer than it had been, now well past her waist and she'd gained a few scars from her skirmishes in the war; the most visible at the moment being just below the left side of her lower lip where it had been split.

Again she found annoyance surging to the forefront as she was reminded that while she'd been here protecting and defending, he'd been off doing Faranth even knew what. A mission. She knew that Hedara and the others had sent certain riders off on special missions and that they were often kept secret from the rest of the Weyr for safety but having worked together for so long, she still felt she had been deserving of some sort of warning that he'd be gone. And now with the war almost called a truce only for disaster to strike in the south, things were more tense than ever and he was back.

-------------------

[smear:#000000]She's not very happy with your rider, Bamath.[/smear:#ffebad:0] Korinath paused in her munching and crunching and twisted her head to peer up at the crimson, an almost purr-like sound rattling in her chest as he stretched out a wing to shield her from the gusts of winter wind that whistled through the bowl. His tail twitched against her back and she crooned softly before going back to playing with her food, picking it up by the legs and giving it a bit of a shake, spattering blood across the snowy ground and herself. [smear:#000000]Distance might have made your rider fonder, but it made mine grumpy. I think he hurt her feelings.[/smear:#ffebad:0]

As the moonlight continued to play with the increasingly mutilated carcass she'd been given, a little black streak swooped from the sky and landed just out of reach of the pair of dragons and gave a little chirp before bouncing closer, eyeing the crimson warily as she moved toward Korinath. The firelizard was black as night and untouched by any marking and stopped to lick at a bloodstained patch of snow.

Post by shapeshifter on Oct 28, 2018 19:49:58 GMT -8

R'niaan grimaced and moved his hands a bit as he talked, "I mean, stale as in unchanging.... I guess. You've well..." he cleared his throat, "You don't exactly look the same and Korinath is beautifully fit..." he said, noting those feelings coming from Bamath. "I just assumed you'd have some interesting adventure beyond the War." he said, looking over at her, his honey eyes attempting to lock hers, "Kor, I am sorry...open up a little." he said, sighing a bit. "You were always more organized, well, at least more serious about things than me. I've been sent everywhere on Pern and I'm not always thinking clearly but I'm here now and you can't stay mad forever..." he inched an arm closer to her.

Bamath grumbled, [smear:#721513]/He knows and he's not good at speaking his feelings./[/smear:#721513:0] he then heard crunching of snow and craned his neck down to be eye level with a firelizard. Solid black and licking blood. He blew a puff of hot breath in it's direction from his nostrils, causing a little temporary cloud. He rumbled and shifted his weight closer to Korinath.

[smear:#721513]/Mine, apology may not work. Korinath relays her feelings are hurt. I know you say woman are emotional..../[/smear:#721513:0]

R'niaan stared blankly for a moment, listening to Bamath. He was right.

Post by Cait on Oct 28, 2018 21:28:52 GMT -8

“I guess nothing has really changed aside from the war. Mostly I stay here to look after any weyrlings. Korinath and I have mostly kept out of actual fighting for the most part.” Shrugging as though this wasn’t anything particularly interesting, Korvalia stroked one of the furs beneath her. It was strange to have the man back, she still wasn’t sure how she felt about it. When he made an effort to catch her eye, she looked up at him, her blue eyes meeting his hazel ones. “I’m not exactly the adventuring sort; I leave that to you.”

When he apologized though, Kor sighed and eased back into the pillows finally, letting some of the tension melt away though she was by no means giving up her annoyance. “I’m sure I could manage.” She muttered. Certainly she could hold a grudge for quite a while. Lifting a hand, she rubbed at her forehead with her fingertips then shoved her hair out of her face. “Look, you can’t honestly expect me to be all happy and excited that you’re suddenly back. First of all, I’m not the happy and excited sort. Secondly, this is the second time. For all I knew you were off fornicating with random women again like some easily excited boy. I still don’t see why you couldn’t have at least let me know you were leaving.”

-----

Pretty squeaked as the crimson huffed at her but her nervousness didn’t last for long as she bounced and played in the steam cloud before it was whisked away by the wind. With the cloud gone, she turned her attention back to Korinath and scampered across the ground to nibble on a chunk of fallen wherry meat, gnawing on it greedily.

[smear:#000000]Korvalia likes to hide her feelings. She’s so stiff sometimes.[/smear:#ffebad:0]

As Bamath shifted closer, the moonlight paused in her playful mutilation of her food to peek out from under the sheltering wing at the crimson. She really only remembered him from Korvalia’s memories, but friendly as she was, any familiar dragon was prone to suffering her attentions. Her tongue darted out and licked at the blood that coated her lips and speckled her hide.

Post by shapeshifter on Oct 29, 2018 6:57:54 GMT -8

R'niaan bit his lower lip and slightly chewed before releasing, "A correct choice was made when making you the Assistant Weyrlingmaster. You always handled things well." he sighed before speaking further, "You know, just because of Yuki, doesn't mean I go chasing ever every girl I see you know. You also should know I can't tell you everything I have to do; I didn't want to leave." he said and put his hands to his face, covering it for a moment and then dragging them down before dropping his hands to his lap, "I understand and I'll accept that you're not all keen on me right now. But I need to know if there is any important details I should know. I'm sure we'll be having a clutching soon? I'm sure the Queen is due to rise again." he said, thinking of the Weyrlings he'd be receiving. "I'm not due for any more missions, I will most definitely refuse more." he said, "I have a duty to you and the young ones; their successful training is vital." He felt her posture relax, which eased him a bit, "I'm hoping one of those kitchfolk hurry with this food, I'm feeling my stomach begin to eat itself."

Bamath looked and craned his neck to Korinath, [smear:#721513]/Weyrs./[/smear:#721513:0] That's all he would say on the subject. [smear:#721513]/Nothing more to be said. We did our duty and now we are here. I am here./[/smear:#721513:0] He shifted his body away from Korinath, looking up to the weyr ledge for her and her rider, [smear:#721513]/Sunning would be nice, it is bright./[/smear:#721513:0] he took the last bite of his wherry and stood, heaving his body upward and furling his wings out and high. He moved far enough away and tilted his head as he watched the dragoness, seeing if laziness would be on her schedule as well.

Post by Cait on Oct 29, 2018 9:03:37 GMT -8

Another hrumph and Korvalia looked away, clearly not convinced. If R’niaan had changed, she’d yet to see it. All she knew was that before he’d left he was something of a flirt. Still, he seemed genuine in his insistence that he hadn’t wanted to leave which was at least some comfort. Not much, but some. In truth, she was in a bit of turmoil at his sudden reappearance after so long and it brought to the forefront thoughts and feelings that she’d kept buried for turns. He claimed her to be organized but right now her thoughts were anything but.

“They are predicting that she could rise any day now, which means that there should be a clutch by spring, perhaps sooner.” The odd small clutch here or there had kept her busy but this would be the first large clutch since the ruined clutch that her brother had Impressed in. Not sure whether to be annoyed or relieved that R’niaan would be around for this clutch. With a sigh, she looked back at the crimsonrider and readjusted her blanket, picking at a bit of pilling on the woven cloth. “Listen, I’m not mad at you for doing your duty. I just don’t appreciate being kept in the dark entirely.”

-------

In a gesture oddly reminiscent of her rider, Korinath let out a dramatic huff as Bamath gave her a rather vague answer but she didn’t press. She had other ways of finding out where they’d gone and what they’d done. Beside, she was far too content at the moment to put in much effort. As he folded his wing back, Korinath rolled onto her belly once more and made quick work of her mangled treat, turning to watch the crimson as he prepared to take off. Pushing up to her feet and sending Pretty skittering away, the moonlight shook herself out then stepped back. [smear:#000000]I won’t say no. Lead the way.[/smear:#ffebad:0]